ThOR Thermal Scopes

Gman757

Gman757

Well-known member

Looking at the ThOR 4.5x. Anyone here have any experience with any of these scopes?

http://www.thor-scope.com/thor-320-45x

Quality?.....software.....firmware issues?

Performance in the field?

I really need some valid information about the scope ..... I already know about ATNs reputation . This is new product for them and I would like some specific feedback if it is available.
 
I cannot really recommend anything from ATN that I know of, these units all have FLIR microbolometer hardware inside them but ATN is responsible for the software drivers for the thermal camera output and there have been some problems with that. I looked at these new units earlier this year close and hard when they first came out before I decided to get my FLIR thermals. I would much rather have something 100% FLIR inside and out, mil spec with warranty service for that price.....and a clip-on unit that is easy to remove or install as needed and has zero impact on POA-POI when installed in front of a scope.

In addition, thermal is a little more difficult to get used to, especially the FOV and identifying what it is you are looking at in a strange area (hunting somewhere you have never seen during the day), in those conditions it is difficult to figure out what you are seeing and even find the interface of the ground sometimes. That said, there is NO WAY I would want a 4X only dedicated thermal weapon scope, if you were to get one, I would get either the 1X or maximum 2X as any more magnification would be very disorientating with a thermal unit....
 
Thanks Pup....

Just got off the phone with them..... If I decide to pursue thermal instead of Gen 3 I think a one week rental would be smart.

The guy I spoke with suggested the 2x for better FOV given the ranges I hunt.

My biggest concern is ID since I scan with the FLIR PS32...... I assume you are using the PVS14 for ID when it comes to yote/dog differentiation??




 
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If it is less than 100 yards, I can pretty much tell a coyote by the way that it moves in the thermal @ 4X through the ACOGs (not that a pet dog would not emulate that movement, but there are no pet dogs where I hunt, if it were a dog it would be a feral dog).

A PVS-14 and IR Illuminator would ID a coyote out to at least 250 yards and pretty much eliminate a dog.

Problem with coyotes, as you well know, is that they rarely present themselves for very long, so proper ID is a high priority prior to pulling the trigger.
 
I just got back from a little yote calling and playing with the FLIR PS32. I had one in after about 5 minutes and he hung with me for a long time so I had a good chance to check him out at different ranges. (I had no weapon as I was on military property).

As I was playing with him and thinking about going to a thermal from the FLIR it occurred to me that it would have to be darn good resolution.....probably too good for my price range. The D740 or similar for ID and shooting would be a better match with the FLIR. I hunt too many farms with adjacent farms and ID is very critical.

 
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I may get a new SIG 716 7.62X51mm next year, and if I do, I am planning on putting a nice D-740 on it for night time kills out to 250 yards or so....
 
I really considered buying a THOR 2X model this summer but went with ANVIS-9 housing and new D-740 pinnacle scope. I already had the PS32 thermal for scanning and detecting targets and just felt like I needed the gen 3 740 for shooting as we have pets,sheep/goats,and calfs that all can get on the property we hunt time to time. I still would like to by a THOR and may do just that next few months thermal scopes just have a coolness factor beyond anything else
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I prefer the FLIR clip-on thermals for my personal use, they have LaRue QD latches for instant off and on in front of whatever scope I want to use. The thermal also work very well during the day too, not just at night.

I may have to closely inspect a clip-on NV scope too now that I think about it....
 
last week I hunted for 5 days swaping my D760 with QD mounts and my Vortex Razor twice a day, went out on the range the other night with the d760 and put hits on a 1/2 size steel coyote target @ 300 yards not a problem, Chris down at wild river ranch says he has not touch his adjustments for the last 4 years on his D740's on 6.8's
 
I have an ATN NVD and a FLIR thermal unit. I've seen quality control issues with different ATN products (not the Thor though) but I've never seen any problems with the FLIR imagers.
 
Originally Posted By: SkyPupI prefer the FLIR clip-on thermals for my personal use, they have LaRue QD latches for instant off and on in front of whatever scope I want to use. The thermal also work very well during the day too, not just at night.

I may have to closely inspect a clip-on NV scope too now that I think about it....

Thom,

When you say clip on Thermal? Are you saying you attach your Flir to your NV scope?

Thanks!

Kevin
 
The FLIR Clip-On Thermals clip onto the rail in front of any DAY scope, not an NV scope.....

Flir%20T50%20Left2.jpg


You can take the Thermal Clip-On off anytime and use the day scope normally, or put the Thermal Clip-On and use it with your day scope at night or day for that matter, thermal works day or night.

I can also remove the FLIR Thermal Clip-On and install a FLIR NV Clip-on scope in front of the ACOG Day scope, all without any change in POI.....

The THOR scopes are THERMAL only, no normal scope needed or used.
 
Originally Posted By: Gman757
Looking at the ThOR 4.5x. Anyone here have any experience with any of these scopes?

http://www.thor-scope.com/thor-320-45x

Quality?.....software.....firmware issues?

Performance in the field?

I really need some valid information about the scope ..... I already know about ATNs reputation . This is new product for them and I would like some specific feedback if it is available.





The ThOR scopes are built like tanks. The 4.5 can detect deer, hogs, and coyotes at 1000 yards. That's no BS. First hand experience. Here are some images taken from the 320 4.5X.

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Pig at 60 yards

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Pig at 250 yards.


Out past 500 its tough to tell what the game is. After using the units for a while you gain a sense of how the animals move and are shaped in a thermal. That takes about 5 minutes for experienced hunters. I handle and play with the thor scopes every day so let me know if you have other questions.
 
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